Speech Recognition Software- Back-End SR a Better Option tha Front-End SR

The latest developments in the speech recognition software have made it quite easy for the dictation provider to directly convert the spoken words into electronic text. This provides great benefit to the healthcare workers, especially the physicians. In the medical transcription process the dictation from the doctor is converted into electronic file by a medical transcriptionist. This file is sent back to the doctor who then stores it the computer for later use. This whole process takes time and there is no universal standard available in transcription industry that measures and defines a standard turnaround time, which can be used as benchmark by all the transcription service providers. TAT varies from one transcription service provider to the other.

This is the loophole in the medical transcription process which can be easily overcome by the speech recognition technology. There are two types of software available for the users and they are:

1. Front-end Speech recognition software.
2. Back-end speech recognition software.

The above two options have their own advantages and shortcomings. In front end SR, the physician dictates and edits the transcribed report and there is no need of medical transcriptionist or an editor. The physician finds this type of application, time consuming because of the busy schedule. In absence of transcriptionist or editor, the accuracy of the transcribed report cannot be guaranteed because the software is not completely accurate. Besides this, if the physician overlooks an error while transcribing, it will be carried forward into the treatment and can seriously affect the outcome.

In the Back-End SR or deferred SR the provider dictates into a digital dictation system. The voice file is sent along with the draft to the medical transcriptionist for editing. After editing and finalization, the report is sent back to the doctor for signing. Thus back-end voice recognition software increases the accuracy of the transcribed report by providing a quality back up in form a medical transcriptionist, who effectively filters out errors made by the physician. Most of the physicians prefer this mode of transcribing as it saves them time.

From medical transcription perspective, the health services providers find it easy and useful integrate the back end type of voice recognition technology with their transcription process. It reduces their turnaround time without compromising the prevalent accuracy level.

Speech recognition software increases the productivity of medical transcription.